Month: June 2018

A chosid once asked the Tzemach Tzedek for a brocha to go live in the Holy Land so that he could devote his life there to Torah study and avodas Hashem; the Tzemach Tzedek replied, “R’ Hillel (Paritcher, a legendary chosid called by the Rebbeim “half a Rebbe”) doesn’t lack Eretz Yisroel. Make here Eretz Yisroel.”

In this week’s Dvar Malchus the Rebbe connects this story with the description in parashas Pinchas of the distribution of Eretz Yisroel among the 12 tribes and how it relates to our individual avodah in the last moments of exile.

The purpose of our exile (individual and collective) is to refine and elevate the world at large, transforming it into the level of the Land of Israel, our part in the words of the midrash that in the Time to Come the land of Israel will spread out to all the lands. However, at the same time Yerushalayim will spread out to all of the land of Israel (Israel remaining on a higher level than the rest of the world) and thus Moshiach will come to gather every Jew and bring him to Eretz Yisroel.

Given this, one might think that “making here Eretz Yisroel” is only an intermediary step to bring the Geulah, when we will leave “here” and go to Eretz Yisroel itself. One could come to diminish the importance of “making here Eretz Yisroel” because he has his eyes on the future when he will go with Moshiach to the Geulah in the true Eretz Yisroel. In fact, this would be a big mistake, explains the Rebbe. Because the preparations for something must be done with the same complete focus, energy, and desire as we feel for the final goal.

Thus, devoting ourselves totally and completely to the task of “making here Eretz Yisroel” becomes a vessel to receive the desired goal: the true and complete Geulah! In fact, the Rebbe refers to this as “making ourselves accustomed” to the Geulah even while we are still in exile. This complete effort while still in exile is in fact what brings the Geulah.

More than this: although each one has the obligation to make “here” (where he is, physically as well as spiritually) into Eretz Yisroel (“the land which wanted to do her Creator’s will”), we find that in Eretz Yisrael each portion contains within it all the other portions. So, too, by each individual Yid–he contains within himself the entire world, and by doing his avodah completely, he is able to rectify the entire world, including all previous incarnations. One little Jew can bring Geulah to all the world and all generations!

Although we must strongly feel that “we want Moshiach now”–right now!–the Rebbe guides us how to proceed when still find ourselves in golus:

Since the Geulah still didn’t come in this moment,and by Divine Providence we are still found “here”, in this time and place — without a doubt we need to capitalize on this and fulfill the instruction to “make here Eretz Yisroel”.

Thus, it is our task to publicize the injunction to “make here Eretz Yisroel” and to fulfill it in a complete manner, and through this we will actually bring the Geulah in revealed actuality.

Chabadinfo.com Exclusive: In the Sicha of Parshas Balak 5751, the Rebbe explains why it is so important to learn the subject of Moshiach and Geulah ● Learn this week’s Sicha with ChabadInfo.com’s Weekly Shiur of the “Dvar Malchus” Sicha in English, presented by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Lipskier, Mashpia of Mesivta of Melbourne, Australia ● Watch Video

The Previous Rebbe stated that all that is necessary to do is to “polish the buttons” — and even that service has been accomplished — and we need do no more than “stand together prepared” to greet Moshiach.

In particular, this is true in the present year, a year when “I will show wonders,” a year in which will be fulfilled the prophecy “As in the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show you wonders.” We have seen wonders of the nature that indicate — as mentioned in the Yalkut Shimoni — that this is “the year when the King Moshiach will be revealed” and that it is “the hour when the King Moshiach comes… and announces to the Jewish people, ‘Humble ones. The time for your redemption has come.’ ”

We are standing at the threshold of the Era of Moshiach, at the threshold of the beginning of the Redemption, and in the immediate future, it will be brought to its completion. In such a year, there is the potential, not only for the Three Weeks to be seen as a preparation for the Redemption, but for the Redemption to actual come, even on the present Shabbos, and thus transform the Three Weeks into a positive period.

In this context, a greater emphasis has to be put on the custom of studying the laws of the structure of the Beis HaMikdash in these Three Weeks. As G‑d told the prophet Yechezkel, through this study, it is considered as if we have been involved in the actual construction of the Beis HaMikdash.

Also, the approach to studying these laws must be different than the approach in previous years. The emphasis must be on, not on mourning over the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, but rather, on the desire and the yearning for the Third Beis HaMikdash of which it is said, “The glory of this later house will surpass the glory of the previous house.”

Thus the subject must be approached as a present reality. It is not that in the distant future these laws will be relevant, but rather that at any moment the Third Beis HaMikdash which is already built in the heavens will descend and be revealed on earth.

In this context, the study of these laws — as the study of the subjects ofMoshiach and the Redemption — should not be looked at as merely a means to hasten the coming of this future era. Rather, it is the beginning of the efforts to live with the concept of Moshiach, to “live with the times,” with the Era ofMoshiach. When these concepts are perceived intellectually, they will affect our feelings, and ultimately our deeds and our actions. Our conduct will be appropriate to the present era, a time when we are at the threshold of Moshiach’s coming.

Although our Sages declared, “Moshiach will come when our attention is diverted,” this is no contradiction to the emphasis on studying the subjects ofMoshiach and Redemption. A diversion of attention can also be interpreted as referring to a step above our ordinary conscious processes. After one has deepened his awareness of Moshiach to the extent that he appreciates that we are standing on the threshold of Moshiach, that we have completed all the service necessary for his coming, and at any moment, he will come, one can step beyond one’s ordinary thinking process and consider the Redemption in a new light.

These words are meant as a directive for action. Despite the outcry that has been made in the last months, and despite the wonders that we have seen in the present year which indicate that this is “the year when the King Moshiach will be revealed,” there is a difficulty in having this concept permeate people’s consciousness, that they should be aware that we are actually on the threshold of the Redemption, and that they should begin living with the concepts ofMoshiach and the Redemption.

Although this is a year when “I will show you wonders,” and wonders have taken place, they have not been shown to us in a complete manner. On the contrary, it has been necessary to explain and elaborate on the fact that we have seen wonders. When G‑d Himself will show the Jews the wonders in a completely manifest way, there will be no need to explain that we are on the threshold of the Redemption. But until that time, it is difficult for these concepts to make a thorough and effective impression on our thought processes.

How can this be changed? By studying about the concepts of Moshiach and Redemption. The power of the Torah, which is G‑d’s wisdom and His will, transcends the world and has the potential to change man’s character. Thus, even though someone feels on the outside when it comes to the Redemption, through studying about these matters, they can begin to live with the idea of Moshiach’s coming, and sense that he is coming in the immediate future.

There is a common thread running through almost all of the Dvar Malchus sichos of 5751-52: the concepts of “ratzo v’shov” (ascending and returning) and the influence from Above contrasted with the effort from below. These concepts are explained at great length in the teachings of Chassidus, and they receive added emphasis in Dvar Malchus.

The year this sicha was said (5751, same as this year, 5778) Shabbos parshas Chukas was the 10th of the month of Tammuz. This means it carries the influence of the number seven (Shabbos) and the number ten (10th of the month). The Rebbe explains that seven represents the complete perfection of the world as it is created from Above, exemplified by the Written Torah which was given from Above, the revealed aspect of Torah. The number ten represents the perfection that is attained (and added to) via our effort from below, which finds expression in the Oral Torah, including Pnimiyus Hatorah. The added quality of ten, deriving from our effort, is that it brings to revelation the “concealed good” which is not openly revealed in the revealed Torah.

The difference between 7 and 10 is 3, which refers to the “moichin“, the three intellectual dimensions of Chochma, Bina and Da’as (Chaba”d). It is our effort to use our intellectual abilities which brings out the hidden good. Says the Rebbe here:

To point out that last Shabbos was 3 Tammuz, the beginning of the Geulah. This Shabbos. the 10th of Tammuz, comes after 7 days of the week have passed–the avodah of refining the 7 midos. Together with this is the avodah of the 3 moichin (of 3 Tammuz)–and this brings about the revelation of the aspect of 10 (of Tammuz)…

This is the special quality of our effort (3 [moichin]) which adds to the completeness from Above (7 [midos]) and brings to the ultimate completeness and perfection of revealing the hidden good (10). [This is also connected with our parsha which speaks of the Red Heifer (Para Adumah), in which the Torah instructs that the sprinkling of the purifying waters take place on the third day and the seventh day.] The Rebbe explains further: “through understanding Pnimiyus Hatorah and the soul of the matter, one is able to see there also the hidden good, even though one does not see this revealed, or one even sees the opposite (the opposite of good).” According to Torah (and emphasized in Chassidus), everything is really good because nothing evil descends from Above. But in order to see this we need the aspect of “3”–our effort in using our 3 intellectual faculties to understand Pnimiyus Hatorah. The revelation of Pnimiyus Hatorah is the inyan of the three lands of Eretz Yisroel that will be inherited in the future: the lands of the Keni Kenizi and Kadmoni.

All of this is assisted by seeing the Rebbe’s face:

The revelation of Pnimiyus Hatorah is drawn down in an ongoing, perpetual way (since the time of the geulah [of the Previous Rebbe in 5687-1927])–via the Previous Rebbe’s students and the students of his students, as he is the Nosi of our generation, and “the Nosi is everything”–he gives the ability to every Jew in this generation, and particularly via his students who merited to see him with eyes of flesh, face to face…and seeing the face of the Tzaddik and the Nosi of our generation has an effect on those who see him, until it becomes firmly recognizable in them that they saw him, including first and foremost–in their avoda in “your wellsprings will spread outward”.

Since the period of time in which we find ourselves is characterized by things which appear to be the opposite of good (most strikingly the event of 3 Tammuz, which marks an interruption of seeing the Rebbe “with eyes of flesh, face to face”), we must implement the Rebbe’s instruction to make an effort to understand these things according to Pnimiyus Hatorah and in that way reveal the hidden good, which itself brings about open and revealed good in the world.

1. Every day has two dimensions, its place in the week (which depends on the daily cycle of day and night) and its place in the month (which is dependent on the lunar cycle). Each of these serves as a lesson for us in the service of G‑d. In particular, this is relevant in regard to the present Shabbos which falls on the tenth of Tammuz and, as every other Shabbos, is the seventh day of the week. This is especially true, because the numbersseven and ten are of general import.

To focus on the difference between the weekly cycle and the monthly cycle. The weekly cycle reflects a Divine pattern of revelation, paralleling the first seven days of creation. This is not dependent on man’s activity at all. Thus, the holiness of Shabbos is established by G‑d, above all connection to human actions. From the seventh day of creation onward, every Shabbos has been an experience of holiness.

In contrast, the monthly cycle is dependent on man, for it is the Jewish court who establish the calendar.1 This is reflected in the blessing recited on holidays, “…who sanctifies Israel and festive seasons.” Israel is mentioned first, for the sanctity of the festivals is dependent on the Jewish court. This points to the spiritual task given to the Jewish people, to draw down holiness which transcends the creation within our world.

The weekly cycle is thus an expression of the Divine energy invested in the creation. This reflects a level of perfection as our Sages said, “The world was created in a perfect state.” Man, however, was given the potential to raise the creation to a new2 and higher level of perfection. Thus our Sages interpreted the phrase “all that G‑d created to do,” “as created to improve,” i.e., man has the potential and the responsibility to introduce into the world a dimension of holiness which the world does not possess by nature. This holiness will be revealed in the Era of the Redemption, when man will have completed his task of elevating the world.

These two levels relate to the numbers seven and ten. Seven relates to the holiness of the natural order, i.e., the Divine life-force invested in creation. Ten, in contrast, relates to a level which transcends creation and is introduced by man.

Chabadinfo.com Exclusive: In the Sicha of Parshas Chukas 5751, the Rebbe explains that there are 2 kinds of good, how Hashem created the world, and what we add to the world. ● Learn this week’s Sicha with ChabadInfo.com’s Weekly Shiur of the “Dvar Malchus” Sicha in English, presented by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Lipskier, Mashpia of Mesivta of Melbourne, Australia ● Watch Video

The Miracle of the Sun standing stil was only in order to allow Israel to defeat the enemy by their own power in a natural way.

Gimmel Tammuz is the day that the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe was released from Soviet prison in 5687 (1927).

Prior to that, we find that it was on this day that Yehoshua bin Nun performed a tremendous miracle, causing the sun to stand still. The story behind the miracle is that Israel were doing battle with the enemy. Sunset was approaching, and with the setting of the sun the battle would cease and the enemy would be able to escape. In order to enable Israel to defeat the enemy, Yehoshua instructed the sun to “be silent”, causing it to cease it’s flight in the heavens, preserving the daylight so that the battle could be won.

The Rebbe asks an obvious question: if one has the power to cause the sun (and the entire heavenly system with it) to pause, why not simply bring about the defeat of the enemy in a direct fashion? The preceding verses in Sefer Yehoshua tell us that more of the enemy were killed by stones which fell upon them from heaven than were killed by the sword. Is it not a simpler matter to rain down some more stones than to freeze the entire heavenly system?

The answer the Rebbe gives is that the battle is Israel’s battle, it must be won by them under their own power. Of course Hashem is helping with miraculous assistance from above, but this is only assistance. The war must be fought and pursued by Israel in a natural fashion, even if on top of that there is super-natural assistance. Thus, instead of Yehoshua simply bringing about the defeat of the enemy and Israel stand by passively, he used his power to give Israel more time to overcome the enemy in a natural way.

In our day, Gimmel Tammuz is primarily associated with the transition from the years when we saw the Rebbe to the current situation where the Rebbe is not seen except in videos and dreams. Moshe Rabbeinu is likened to the sun, and the Rebbe, Moshe Rabbeinu in our generation, is still providing all the assistance necessary to win the war against evil. But the war must be won by us, under our own power. While the Rebbe was visible to all, it was possible to “rely on the Rebbe” to win the war. Today, when it seems that the sun, Moshe Rabbeinu, has “stopped moving” it is only in order to allow us to overcome the enemy using natural means.

For a more detailed explanation, with comprehensive references from Chassidus, see the KuntresInyonei Moshiach and Geulah for Gimmel Tammuz.